Tag Archives: Putnam

Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the nation’s second-largest tornado outbreak on record, storms that took the lives of 27 Upper Cumberland residents. At least 11 different tornadoes touched down across the Upper Cumberland from April 3, 1974 into April 4. Storms struck every county but Clay and Van Buren. 275 homes were damaged and three people died in Overton ... Read More »

Farmers in several Upper Cumberland counties are eligible for federal loans in the aftermath of the fall drought conditions. The US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency offering loans to help producers recover. Farmers in Cumberland, Dekalb, Fentress, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren and White Counties are eligible. Greer Gill is outreach and public affairs coordinator for the agency. She ... Read More »

Three inmates overdosed at the Putnam County Jail Monday morning, the second time in a month. Sheriff Eddie Farris said they have reason to believe it was from fentanyl brought in by an inmate booked around 12:30 this morning. Farris said the inmate was able to bring the narcotics in undetected. “The drugs are being placed up in the body ... Read More »

Changes coming to Putnam County election precincts after the Election Commission voted to consolidate four precincts. The commission voted to combine and move precincts in four districts: District 12, District 8. District 5 and District 10. The affected precincts include Algood In and Out, Boma, Dry Valley, and Sycamore. Chair Phil Adams said this comes as a result of a ... Read More »

Five Upper Cumberland School Districts and York Institute among recipients of the state’s Perkins Reserve Grant funds. Overton County Schools to use some $50,000 to power three career education programs. She said they want to showcase the equipment and software that will help students advertise in the digital age. “They’re going to bolster a school-based enterprise. We have a vinyl ... Read More »

Putnam County Jail has recently received accreditation by meeting all requirements as set by the Tennessee Corrections Institute. The accreditation will increase the amount of money allotted per inmate from the state without costing Putnam County residents any extra tax dollars. Currently, the jail houses approximately 100 state inmates on felony convictions that were committed in Putnam County. Read More »

A new state law will require the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department to spend additional money for inmates that participate with the county’s work crews. Sheriff Eddie Farris said starting January 1st, any prisoners that leave the jail for work-related programs will have to have ankle monitors or be accompanied by an armed deputy. Farris said they will implement the monitoring ... Read More »

Putnam County District 1 Commissioner Jonathan Williams proposing a replacement pay structure for county employees. Williams said the idea came about after the county conducted a salary study and learned that it is behind on wages for employees. He said he believes that when looking at updating the pay scale, the entire system needs to be on the table, not ... Read More »

Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said a $31 million bond capacity for the school system could be feasible in the future. Porter said the school system is potentially looking at coming up around 2025 or 2026 to ask for an additional bond. He said that is about when the county should have paid off some of its older bonds, freeing ... Read More »

Now that the new Putnam County Veterans Services building is moved in and operating on Highway 70, what is next for the old building? Putnam County Veterans Organization leader Jimmie Loftis said right now, they are looking for additional rentals for some of the space left by the departure of the Veterans Services. “We hope to maintain it, keep it ... Read More »