By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard Hickory Creek students Joseph Webb, left, and David Jaco push squeegees along the floor to help clear off water. Overhead is the drop ceiling, completely destroyed by water. (James Clark photos) Hickory Creek Elementary lived up to its name Tuesday, although it was more like Hickory…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard BROWN A wave of vandalism has swept the city over the past few days, with the culprits targeting buildings, vehicles and parks with blue spray paint and leaving behind thousands of dollars in damage.“We’re taking this very seriously,” said McMinnville Police Capt. Bryan Denton of…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard WOODLEE The former chief of Collins River Fire Department has been indicted for shooting up his former fire hall in an incident reportedly brought on by his being voted out as chief last year.The suspect, Dwight Woodlee, was freed on $30,000 bond after turning himself…

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(AP) — Q. I’ve been hearing a lot lately about “cookies” on my computer. What are they, and are they really dangerous? A. Cookies have been getting a bad reputation lately because some are linked to spyware and adware, programs that often sneak onto your computers. Many anti-spyware programs identify cookies as threats because Web…

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street enjoyed a solid advance Tuesday after the Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates for the 10th time in more than a year but changed its policy statement to say longer-term inflation expectations are well contained. While the Fed’s statement signaled more increases are likely through the end of the…

NEW YORK (AP) — The way that some executives have been paid when their companies file for bankruptcy, running a failing business may seem like a profitable proposition. That’s right, while workers often get fired and shareholders watch the value of their investments sink when companies enter bankruptcy court protection, corporate leaders have been known…

WASHINGTON (AP) — It is now 10 and counting. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates 10 consecutive times over the past 14 months, and more rate hikes appear to be on the way. That means borrowers will pay more for home mortgages, auto loans and other types of credit. Immediately after the Fed announced…

Bone Cave resident and Warren County native Mary Pauline Simmons, 84, died Aug. 7 at NHC Healthcare after a two-year illness.A retired employee of Levi’s and a member of Laurel Creek Baptist, she was the daughter of the late Hampton and Phoebe Mae Reynolds Caten; and was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Dick…

NASHVILLE (AP) — John Jay Hooker, a local lawyer and two-time Democratic nominee for governor, says he will challenge Gov. Phil Bredesen in next year’s primary because he’s unhappy with his handling of TennCare and ethics. Hooker cited instances where Bredesen’s staff shredded sexual harassment files and handed out honorary trooper-like badges to political insiders,…