County Names Architect to Oversee Shopping Center Building Renovation

The county commission Monday night selected J. Mark Rodgers Architect of Cookeville as a third party consultant on the renovation of the 61,000 square foot shopping center building.

According to terms of the deal, Rodgers will receive a one percent consultation service fee, which is to be included as an allowance with each potential bidder. However, this fee will be paid directly from the county to Rodgers to assure an arms-length relationship with the successful team builder.

County Mayor Mike Foster said by providing third party consultation, the county will be given an objective evaluation and progress of the work.

Foster says bids could be advertised as early as next week for the renovation of the shopping center complex, half of which will be for county administration and half for recreation.

Trooper Eric McCormick Nabs Prison Escapee

A Cookeville Tennessee Highway Patrolman originally from Smithville captured a male inmate Wednesday who escaped from a prison work detail at Roane Mountain State Park.

Brian D. Knighton, 34, a prisoner from the Northeast Correctional Complex-Annex in Mountain City, stole a state-registered 2007 Dodge Caravan, changed the license plates, and fled the upper East Tennessee state park just after 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28.

All THP units in the Cookeville District were instructed to “be on the lookout”, and by Wednesday morning, Trooper Eric McCormick noticed the vehicle at the Marathon Gas station located on South Jefferson Avenue in Cookeville. Trooper McCormick, who was assisted by additional State Troopers, took the subject into custody just before 11 a.m.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Tennessee Department of Correction (DOC) are investigating.

McCormick is the son of Jim and Becky McCormick of Smithville.