By Gene Lyons As the nation ponders its lost cause in Iraq, it’s past time to reconsider yet another misbegotten crusade: America’s 35-year-old “War on Drugs.” Conceived by President Richard Nixon in 1971 partly as an attack on the anti-Vietnam war “counterculture,” like most governmental efforts to abolish sin and folly, it’s a complete failure.…

By ROB NUNLEY Warren County Middle?s sixth-grade girls completely dominated their guests from Tullahoma West Tuesday night, holding the Lady Bobcats to a single first-half points and just two more baskets on the way to a 36-5 victory. Swarming defensive pressure led to several Tullahoma turnovers, and the Lady Pioneers ? who closed their 2006…

By Rob Nunley The rich keep getting richer, and the rest of us keep paying the price. Major League salaries have come under fire for over a decade, but while plenty of people squawk about them, no one takes any definite action to control them. The latest two examples come from the American League, where…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD The Lady Wildcats of Dibrell got off to a rough start Tuesday night against Eastside in the first round game of the girls fifth- and sixth-grade basketball tournament. The Lady Bulldogs posted 20 points in the first half on their way to a 30-11 win. Dibrell struggled on offense during first period…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD Tuesday night at Eastside, the fifth- and sixth-grade championship basketball tournament kicked off with the Tigers of Irving College taking on the Dibrell Wildcats. After a close first half, the Wildcats pulled out in the fourth quarter to take a 29-16 victory in the first game of the boys? side of the…

By DUANE SHERRILL A local man left nothing to waste when he stole property from a John Oliver Road farmer this week. The suspect, David M. Hill, 23, is charged with theft for stealing two chainsaws worth around $500 from a farm on John Oliver Road, the same farm where several people had seen him…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON Antiques and the Arts on Main Street will be holding a special pet adoption this Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. in the front lobby of the shop located next to New York Grill. The event is being held in conjunction with Viola Valley…

By LISA HOBBS Jack Qualls says good-bye to McMinnville and hello to Kingsport. His last day as McMinnville?s city planner will be Dec. 29. Qualls has been working for the city since Feb. 22, 2005. During his stay, he has been bringing McMinnville?s technology into the 21st century, getting grants, establishing long-range plans for land…

By DUANE SHERRILL Two men accused of amassing a child pornography collection were bound to the grand jury Tuesday, with one of them temporarily side-stepping aggravated sexual battery charges brought by a young boy who lawmen say is now too emotionally fragile to testify. The defendants, Peter Murray Gibson, 40, and Daniel James Holmes, 43,…

By LISA HOBBS City administrator finalist Glenn Abee took some time out to tour McMinnville prior to his latest interview for the job. In a day and a half filled with appointments and meetings, he got a good look at the city, and though a bit exhausted from all the activities, Abee said he likes…