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A 22-year-old Cookeville man will appear in court later this month for a charge of statutory rape. Cookeville Police charged Michael Tyler Phillips last week after responding to a report of a missing 17-year-old female. According to the arrest warrant, officers attempted to locate the girl at a Broadway Avenue apartment, but no one answered the door. Later that evening, ... Read More »

The Tennessee Department of Health’s Upper Cumberland office reports eight cases of tuberculosis (TB) have been diagnosed this year. Regional TB Resource Nurse Robin Palmer says although uncommon, the disease is still capable of spreading easily from person to person. “It is airborne, if [the patient] to cough or sneeze as you’re inhaling, you could get the bacteria in your ... Read More »

The White County Firefighter Association continues to seek a solution for the firefighter shortage. Chairman of the association Derrick Wilson said the shortage affects departments nationwide. “It’s a decline across the nation. It ain’t just mostly in White County or Putnam County, it’s somewhat of a problem throughout the nation,” Wilson said. “And there are different solutions that people have ... Read More »

A ceramic tile company from Brazil could help the Baxter community greatly expand over the next several years. Mayor John Martin says Portobello America’s $150 million capital investment will have a tremendous impact on the small town. “It’s absolutely unbelievable that a company of this magnitude is coming to a small town like Baxter,” Martin says. “It’s just absolutely unbelievable ... Read More »

Ceramic tile manufacturer Portobello America, Inc. will invest $150 million in Putnam County to open a new United States Headquarters. TDECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe says the company will create 220 jobs with its new location in Baxter. “It’s a fantastic day for Baxter and Putnam County, and we say that because rarely do we get to come to this community ... Read More »

Construction crews continue to make progress on the $64 million Hormann facility in White County. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the building should be completed within the next year. “It’s moving along nicely. The dirt work and the building pad has been completed and now we’re working on the foundation for the building,” Robinson said. “This is going to ... Read More »

The city of Cookeville sprang to action after mother nature pushed back the final Blue Cross Bowl game to Sunday. Vice President of Visitor Development Zach Ledbetter said the city worked to get hotels lined up for Henry County High School players on Saturday. “We worked with their administration to get a group rate and a block of rooms at ... Read More »

Buildings at the corner of Spring Street and Maple Avenue will soon be demolished to make way for a new parking lot in Putnam County. County Mayor Randy Porter said Danny Roberts Construction received the low bid last week to demolish the buildings. “As soon as that’s completed we will start the filling of the property and leveling,” Porter said. ... Read More »