Latest News

A school shooting event in Nashville Monday may have many kids hearing news coverage, leaving them distressed or overwhelmed. Sheila Barker is the Putnam County School Systme’s Social Emotional Wellness Coordinator. She said in times like these, it is important for parents to simply listen to their children. “We get bombarded with that and I think kids just really need ... Read More »

Overabundance has led Bethel Thrift to open a second location in Cookeville. Traci Burdette said the thrift stores embody community giving to community. The stores themselves provide gently used items at reasonable prices. Behind those storefronts, generous donations and customers have allowed Bethel to give back over $120,000 to local charities in the past year. “The new store will also ... Read More »

A fire on Cookeville’s Skyline Drive resulted in the total loss of a residential structure. Cookeville Fire Department Battalion Chief Daniel Snyder said all stations responded to the scene around 11 p.m. Monday night. He said the narrowness of Skyline Drive and the surrounding landscape made it difficult for firefighters to get to the house. “We had to call the ... Read More »

The Putnam Educational Partnership (PEP) Foundation paid off the lunch debt for all students on free and reduced lunches. Executive Director Katelyn Steakley said the foundation covered almost $15,000 in lunch debt. She said that was made possible through the foundation’s community donations. “Unfortunately debts such as lunch debt can follow students throughout their educational careers,” Steakley said. “It can ... Read More »

Putnam County having to postpone presenting its preliminary plat for the new county bus garage at the Cookeville Planning Commission. The new bus garage is set to be off of Tennessee Avenue. County Mayor Randy Porter said the engineer asked for the postponement after running into issues with TVA. “So we’re in the process of getting all those plans finished ... Read More »

Sparta’s 2023 paving project began roadwork on Monday. Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the project started some three years ago when the city graded the streets and began working on the worst. “There are a few that are bad and it’s because we had to go back and do sewer and water upgrades on the road,” Quick said. “And ... Read More »

Cookeville Planning Commission approved the rezoning of a 10-acre tract on South Jefferson and Old Sparta Road Monday night. The rezoning would change the property from high-density residential to local commercial. Community Development Director Jon Ward said the planning department wanted to rezone the area to a classification that would allow for both commercial and residential development opportunities, and not ... Read More »

A local towing company is for community donations to deliver to Mississippi to help the relief efforts of those affected by the weekend tornado. Rush Towing LLC Owner Steve Rush said that he has been making disaster response trips since 2018. He said this marks around 20 trips he has made to communities in need. “God puts it on my ... Read More »

DeKalb County officials will explore options to build a new County Criminal Justice Center. County Mayor Matt Adcock said the current county jail does not meet certain code standards. During recent meetings with state officials, Adcock said the Tennessee Corrections Institute’s Bob Bass recommended a brand-new criminal justice center rather than just upgrading the current jail. “Now a concern is ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech Professor Julie Baker recognized with the OVC’s inaugural Outstanding Faculty Commitment to Student Success Award. The Associate Dean of the School of Education has served at Tech for some 17 years. She said student success begins with the social connections students build in Putnam County. Baker said one student stuck with her. “So I walked with him that ... Read More »