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A lack of management oversight within the Cookeville Fire Department led to an alleged time sheet fraud according to a Tennessee Comptroller investigation. Retired Captain Marvin Montgomery and current Fire Captain Shawn Roberson would clock a 24 hour work day at the fire department. While also clocking an eight to nine hour shift at the Tennessee Fire and Codes Enforcement ... Read More »

Cookeville Police Department responded to an unusual call early Friday morning. Around four a.m. officers were notified of an escaped zebra on West Cemetary Road near Bunker Hill Road. The zebra had escaped from an auction hosted by Triple W Livestock and eventually made its way to Highway 111. Despite getting to the highway and unsuccessful TASER attempts, officers were ... Read More »

All Putnam County School staff would receive a four percent raise under the system budget’s first draft approved Thursday night. The raise totals some $2.422 million, some of which will be paid for through the legislature’s appropriation. With property tax rates yet to be set because of reappraisals, the school system currently faces a $2.6 million budget deficit. “Often at ... Read More »

Two Sparta convenience stores have been put on a one year probation for selling alcohol after being caught in a sting operation. Sparta Police Department conducted the compliance checks. Alcorn’s Market and Dixie Mart both sold alcohol to an undercover officer without checking for identification. The managers of each establishment told the Sparta Beer Board that employees will be properly ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech saw the graduation of over 1,300 seniors at its first outdoor commencement in Tucker Stadium. Tech President Philip Oldham said he admires class of 2021 and its resiliency. “When you were asked to adapt, you did. When you were told to be patient, you were. When you were told to finish strong, you have,” Oldham said. “When the ... Read More »

The Horse Creek Marina in Celina is hosting the Bobby Massingille Memorial Catfish Classic and Fish Fry. East 52 VFD Fire Chief James King said Massingille was a department member and spent most of his life working at Horse Creek Dock. King said on May 7-8 the community will celebrate with one of Massingille’s loves, catfish. “The fishing tournament has ... Read More »

Drawings for the new Taco Bell in Baxter will be submitted to the city on Friday. Mayor John Martin said it will go on Fast Lane, near the liquor store. Drawings were originally submitted in April, but it was decided they need reviewing. Construction is set to start in June. Read More »

The Cookeville-Putnam County NAACP is hitting the streets to celebrate the life of U.S. Representative John Lewis and the right to vote. President Thomas Savage said Cookeville will be joining 180 other U.S. cities on May 8 at 1:00 PM. He said participants will use their vehicles in a votercade across Cookeville, starting at the Leslie Town Centre. “Holding on ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved an actuarial study Thursday night to try and correct the retirement records of the city and Cookeville Regional. The state made a mistake in the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System during the 1999 medical center split from the city. Hospital employees should have been transferred from the city account to the hospital entity. That did not happen, ... Read More »

A former Cookeville Fire Captain faces charges after he allegedly took some $32,212 in compensation he did not deserve. Marvin Montgomery worked for the Cookeville Fire Department and as a part-time instructor at the Tennessee Fire and Codes Enforcement Academy in Bell Buckle. The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office found in an investigation that Montgomery put down the same hours worked at ... Read More »