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Homeless Man Charged in Cookeville Break-Ins

32-year-old Benjamin Carrell faces two counts of burglary after breaking into two Cookeville businesses Wednesday. (Photo: Putnam County Jail)

A homeless man faces charges after breaking into two Cookeville businesses Wednesday. Cookeville Police charged 32-year-old Benjamin Carrell with two counts of burglary and was placed under $20,000 bond at the Putnam County Jail. Arrest warrants state Carrell attempted to break into Cracker Barrel on South Walnut Avenue by entering through a window. Carrell soon left the property after being ... Read More »

No One Injured After Two Lightning Fires in Cumberland Co.

Lightning caused two structure fires Wednesday in Cumberland County as storms rolled through the area. Travis Cole serves as the Crossville-Cumberland County EMA Administrative Assistant. “Shortly after 1 p.m., a 911 call came in of a possible structure fire on Lantana Road just outside the city limits of Crossville,” Cole said. “Fire crews responded and quickly extinguished the fire. The ... Read More »

Retired Putnam K9 Reunited With Marine Handler

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office reunited retiring K-9 Remi with former Marine handler Lance Cpl. Philip Akhteebo Tuesday (Photo: PCSO)

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has reunited a retiring K-9 with its former Marine Corp handler. Explosives K-9 Remi was given to veteran Lance Cpl. Philip Akhteebo during a special ceremony prior to Tuesday’s Putnam County Commission meeting. “Remi means a lot to me and he brought everyone in my squad back from Afghanistan with all their limbs,” Ahkteebo said. “I’m ... Read More »

Emergency Officials Warn Of Hazardous Road Conditions After Heavy Rain

Area emergency officials are advising residents to be cautious after heavy rain swept through the Upper Cumberland Wednesday. Putnam County EMA Director Tyler Smith said several roads are still flooded creating potentially hazardous conditions. “If you do come across a road that’s got water over it and you cannot see the road, please do not cross those areas,” Smith said. ... Read More »

Commissioners Hear Plans For Jail Expansion

The Putnam County Commission saw preliminary plans Tuesday night for a project to expand the justice center. The plan calls for 800 additional beds and at least three new courtrooms. Grant Tharp is Vice President of Cope Architect. He said expanding the facility will be one of the more challenging projects his company has had to take on. “Just being ... Read More »

UCHRA Nutrition Program Financial Woes Continue

UCHRA officials are weighing their options as its nutrition program continues to struggle financially. Executive Director Mark Farley said costs and previous financial decisions under past administration has plagued the program. “We’ve had an issue running the nutrition program for some time. This is not anything that has just happened,” Farley said. “This has been one of the programs that ... Read More »

Commission Considers Consolidating Two Precincts

The Putnam County Election Commission will consider closing the Buffalo Valley and Brotherton voting precincts. Election Commission Chairman Phil Adams said consolidating the two precincts would be a better use of county resources. “We’ve only got a couple hundred people that vote in those,” Adams said. “We just want to make the wisest use of our tax dollars because we ... Read More »

Guilty Plea Entered In Child Rape Case

A Brooklyn, New York man pleaded guilty in Putnam County Criminal Court Tuesday to a charge of attempted rape of a child. Judge Gary McKenzie has sentenced Kerry Jerrod Washington to serve 19-years behind bars. He will also be under community supervision and placed on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life. Cookeville Police arrested the 27-year-old ... Read More »

Former Smith Co. Deputy Indicted on Homicide Charges

Authorities have arrested a former Smith County deputy after being indicted on homicide charges. The TBI announced Tuesday 47-year-old Keith Holder of Carthage faces charges in connection with the drowning death of Donovan Crittendon in Trousdale County last June. The TBI reports Holder intentionally wrecked his personal vehicle into the Cumberland River with Crittendon as the passenger. Holder escaped the ... Read More »

Family Justice Center Looks To Open New Facility

The Upper Cumberland Family Justice Center (FJC) will officially take steps to expand services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Director Amy Stockwell said the organization will apply for grant funding to help open a satellite campus in Overton County. “Our idea is, when the opportunity for this funding for the satellite office came along, that ... Read More »