Latest News

The Putnam County Industrial Development Board may consider a PILOT proposal for the proposed VA clinic expected to be built in Putnam County. Several pieces of land, including a portion of the Putnam County Fairgrounds at the corner of Walnut Avenue and Veterans Drive, are being considered for the facility. Multiple developers are competing to win the project at the ... Read More »

The trial set to begin Monday for former Putnam County Commissioner Jimmy Neal has been delayed until October 1. The attorneys for Jimmy Neal requested the change. The judge in the case granted the move. The pretrial conference is rescheduled for September 23. Neal allegedly used a social media account between June and August of 2021 to view explicit material ... Read More »

The White County School Board voted Thursday night to insert behavioral health specialists into district elementary schools. Board Chair Bob Young said these would neither be school employees nor contractors. He said the therapists would work with students whose parents requested the service, and the fee would be paid through that parent’s insurance. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the ... Read More »

Standing Stone State Park will host its annual Nature Rally this weekend to educate visitors on the Upper Cumberland’s natural resources. Park Ranger Jonathan Williams said the rally will include presentations from nature experts and live animal shows. He said visitors can take to the trails for guided hikes or opt to stay indoors and learn about the history of ... Read More »

Four transitional veteran housing units in Van Buren County are expected to be ready by the end of July. American Legion Post 207 Commander Hansel Moore said the four concrete structures are in place with plumbing installed. He said once electricity is hooked up, interior work will finish up and homeless veterans will be moved in within days. Moore said ... Read More »

Former Capshaw Elementary Principal Leslie Roberts has published a children’s book titled “A Kid’s Look at Big League Baseball.” Roberts said she wrote the book because she noticed a steady decline in baseball’s popularity among children and wanted to show kids why the game is so special. Roberts said the book takes the reader through the experience of going to ... Read More »

The replacement of a bridge on Robert Matthews Highway in White County is running six to eight weeks behind after contractors began the project without the correct drill casings. White County Highway Supervisor Jerry Sawyer said weather has held up the project as well. A new crew has stepped in over the past several weeks and Sawyer said productivity has ... Read More »

The Algood Police Department hosted an advanced DUI detection training course in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Highway Safety. Algood Police Chief Dale Armour said the department went through field sobriety testing last month and this is the next step in training. He said officers will learn how to discern if someone is driving under the influence and how ... Read More »

Mary Beth Elrod has been hired as Cookeville’s New Public Works Director after Blake Mayor stepped down after two years as director. Elrod has been with Cookeville Public Works since May 2022. In her role as an engineer, she was responsible for designing and reviewing expansion and improvement projects. She graduated from Tennessee Tech with a degree in civil and ... Read More »

Work is already underway to plan for road needs from future development in the northern areas of Putnam County. The Putnam County Planning Commission got its first look Tuesday night at a proposed residential development in the Ditty Road area with some 850 units. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said he only expects development in that section of the county ... Read More »