Latest News

The state election coordinator has approved Caney Fork Baptist Church as a new voting location for Putnam County’s fourth district. Election Commission Chair Phil Adams said state approval was needed since the location is outside the voting precinct by about three miles. “That’s what we were hoping for,” Adams said. “We’ll put it in the record that we received this ... Read More »

Fentress County has taken the next step to get a new canopy at its Health Department. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said that the plans for this replacement were actually set for last year, but the county ran out of time. He said that the current canopy is several years old. “We actually are going to be putting a canopy on ... Read More »

The Overton County Fair Association will host an interview workshop Saturday in preparation for the Fairest of the Fair. Pageant Director Addy Stover said the event will focus on attire, body language and responses for a successful interview. “This interview event is set up, because I want my contestants to feel completely comfortable and feel beautiful when they walk into ... Read More »

The Putnam County Planning Department will need to make one of its common practices legal again after a change to state law. Planning Director Kevin Rush said the department has historically approved plats up to two-lots in-house. However, legislation passed in the most recent General Assembly session now requires a one-time approval by the county commission to continue. “State law ... Read More »

Putnam County Schools will continue its International Baccalaureate program for at least another year. This after the school board approved its annual contracts for Cookeville High School and Avery Trace Middle School. Director of Schools Corby King said that they had discussed last school possibly phasing out the program. “We may take that up in September, October, but we’ll give ... Read More »

The increase in electric vehicles has not impacted Cookeville’s electricity usage so far. Director Carl Haney said that the city currently has two commercial charge stations, one at Sam’s Club and one on West Jackson Street. He said that in looking at current data, they typically average the same amount of usage as a convenience store. “The Telsa one uses ... Read More »

Heat indexes predicted to be above 100 degrees all week, and emergency management personnel are asking people to plan ahead. Putnam EMS Director Tommy Copeland said one of the worst, but most common mistakes is leaving pets, children, and the elderly in a vehicle. “Yes it can happen to people, but you should be very cognizant, if you have to ... Read More »

Pressure canner serves a vital role when it comes to preserving foods in the canning process. Putnam UT Extension Agent Michele Parrott said that when preserving certain foods like corn or beans, a pressure canner withstands higher temperatures than a water bath could. She said that as another canning season approaches, it’s important to make sure your pressure canner is ... Read More »

Cookeville may have found the site to be used for the potential aquatics facility. City Manager James Mills said that the 109-acre piece of property on Old Sparta and Old Bridge Roads was put on his radar in the hunt for land suitable for the facility. “We think at least part of the property could be used for an aquatics ... Read More »

Putnam County set an all-time building permit record for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The county had 436 permits for $89.4 million. 245 of those permits were for new single family homes. The 2020-2021 Fiscal Year had 382 permits for $61 million with 243 of those being new homes. Mayor Randy Porter released the numbers Tuesday as the final June numbers ... Read More »