By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard Local Bridgestone/Firestone plant manager Dennis Ringgenberg has announced his impending retirement after more than 35 years with the company. (Charles W. Johnson photo) After 35 years with Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, with almost four years serving as plant manager at the Warren County facility,…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Volunteer firefighters battle the Wednesday night blaze that consumed a large garage at Warren County Nursery. (Margaret Hobbs photo) Fire consumed buildings and machinery at Warren County Nursery Wednesday night as two fire departments fought the stubborn blaze early into the morning.Damage is estimated well…

The soccer field wasn’t the only place for heated action during a 19-team soccer tournament Sunday in Shelbyville. The tournament included a local team from Warren County. It turned physical when the woman with the chair began taunting fans from the losing team when her team advanced to the championship game. (Maury Gonzalez photo)

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard HALE Students suspended for last week’s sit-in at Warren County High School returned to class Wednesday as a rumored sequel to the protest over the school’s dress code failed to materialize.“We had two who showed up with something in, but then they decided they wanted…

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard The day Warren County has been dreading has arrived.Carrier halted production at its local facility yesterday, bringing an end to 37 years of manufacturing air conditioners in Warren County.Workers have been laid off throughout the week and the last of 540 employees will lose their jobs…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rates on 30-year mortgages declined for a second straight week as low mortgages continued to fuel the country’s housing boom. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to a nationwide average of 5.77 percent this week, down from last week’s 5.80 percent. Rates have fallen for…

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (AP) — A new way to borrow audiobooks from the library involves no CDs, no car trips, no fines and no risk of being shushed. Rather, public libraries from New York City to Alameda, Calif., are letting patrons download Tom Clancy techno-thrillers, Arabic tutorials and other titles to which they can listen on…

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Corp., looking to maintain the momentum of its hugely popular employee-pricing discount plan, has extended the promotion until Sept. 30. The world’s largest automaker said Thursday the plan now includes select 2006 full-size trucks and sport utility vehicles, including Chevrolet’s Avalanche and Tahoe, the GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade.…

By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM / Associated Press Writer When Sony Computer Entertainment decided to create games that let users interact with the console and see themselves on-screen, it seemed like a good idea. The newest game, “EyeToy: Play 2,” is fun if you have the patience to work through the not-always-accurate camera. Bundled with a plug-in…

By MICHAEL P. REGAN / AP Business Writer EDISON, N.J. (AP) — Long Island looked as if it were on fire. That’s my view of the New York suburbs on the screen of a Treo Smartphone. A new piece of software gives me real-time traffic updates — flashing yellow, orange or red circles appear over…