🌱 How a Cookeville couple’s photo helped crack a $270,000 scam

Cheers Cookeville! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Cookeville couple’s photo helped crack a $270,000 scam
• Where Cookeville High landed in new Nashville-area football rankings

Also on today's calendar: It's A KILLER BEAZ New Year's Eve and 4 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Cookeville? Post it to Cookeville photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Periods of sunshine, with a high of 48 and low of 31 degrees.
• Wednesday: Low clouds may break, temps: high: 53, low: 40.
• Thursday: Windy with rain and a t-storm, with a high of 58 and low of 26 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Scam leaves Putnam County couple without retirement savings (wkrn.com) — A Cookeville-area couple lost nearly $270,000 in retirement savings after a sophisticated computer pop-up scam convinced them to convert their money into gold coins. Putnam County investigators say the suspect, from Antioch, allegedly spoofed a bank’s phone number and even came to the couple’s home to collect the coins, but was later arrested and now faces a January 12, 2026 court date.
   

• We re-ranked all 137 TSSAA football teams in Nashville area after 2025 season (tennessean.com subscription) — Cookeville High’s football team finished 49th in a new ranking of 137 Nashville-area programs after the 2025 TSSAA season wrapped up in Chattanooga. The list highlights how Cookeville stacks up against powerhouse programs like Oakland, Page, and Nashville Christian, giving local fans a clear sense of where their Cavaliers stand heading into future seasons.
   

📸 Around Cookeville

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Cookeville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 31

• It's A KILLER BEAZ New Year's Eve
  2121 Event Ctr Dr, Cookeville
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday December 16

• Auditorium - Winter Concert
  Cookeville High School Auditorium Cookeville, TN 38506
  7:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• Auditorium - Band Christmas Concert
  Cookeville High School Auditorium Cookeville, TN 38506
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• 2nd Annual Snowball Classic
  Bowling World , 545 Neal St , Cookeville
  10:00 am
• The upper Cumberland Christmas Light show
  155 Fairground St , Cookeville
  11:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve Pajama Party
  Bowling World , 545 Neal St , Cookeville
  9:00 am

Wednesday December 31

• Killer Beaz New Year's Eve!
  Putnam County Convention Center | Jessica Rector Clark Welcome Center & Fairgrounds (new Expo Center under construction) , 2121 Event Ctr Dr , Cookeville
  7:00 pm

📣 Cookeville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Auditorium - Winter Concert
  Cookeville High School Cookeville, TN 38506
  7:30 pm
• Cafeteria - Winter Concert
  Cookeville High School Cookeville, TN 38506
  7:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• Southside Lions Club
  BB's Bistro , 4 E Main St , Gordonsville
  6:30 pm
• Auditorium - Band Christmas Concert
  Cookeville High School Cookeville, TN 38506
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Heartsaver First Aid, CPR and AED
  Cookeville Regional Medical Center , Cookeville Reg'l Medical Ctr , 1 Medical Center Blvd , Cookeville
  9:00 am
• 2nd Annual Snowball Classic
  Bowling World , 545 Neal St , Dodson Branch
  10:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Cookeville. Apply here.
• Tidal Wave Auto Spa posted a job opening for Assistant Manager - Cookeville, TN in Cookeville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cookeville here.

🗞 Nearby News

Sparta

• American Red Cross hosts blood drive at Sparta Civic Center (spartalive.com)
• Joint choir performances are highlight of Christmas season (spartalive.com)
• Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series Announces 25-Race Slate for 2026; Now Pays $15,000 for Champion - St. Louis Racing (stlracing.com)

Gordonsville

• South Korean Firm To Make Single Largest Corporate Investment In Tennessee History (chattanoogan.com)

Ok Cookeville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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