By CHARLES W. JOHNSON After conferring with Sheriff Jackie Matheny at a recent Safety Committee meeting, County Executive John Pelham will not be purchasing an $875 maintenance contract for the closed-circuit video arraignment equipment installed last year at the jail and courthouse. The system, which cost around $14,000, was the brainchild of former County Executive…

By JAMES CLARK Sarah Fryar has proven to be fairest in the county. Now she has her sights set on fairest in the state. As reigning Fairest of the Fair, Fryar will represent Warren County tonight in Nashville at the state Fairest of the Fair competition. The beauty pageant is part of the 85th annual…

By DUANE SHERRILL Law enforcement officials stand outside the Centertown home of Ruby Thurman after her body was found inside in July 2005. Josh Jacobs pleaded guilty to her murder Wednesday. Saying a painless death would be too good a fate for her mother?s killer, Dortha Smith predicted a hard life in prison for the…

By DUANE SHERRILL It was a traffic headache Wednesday afternoon outside Warren County Middle School on Caldwell Street when there was a lockdown at the end of the school day. Parents experienced a delay picking up their children. It was high drama Wednesday afternoon outside Warren County Middle School as scores of parents flooded the…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON Morrison now has a spacious and well equipped new fire station, thanks to a UCDD grant and the hard work and perseverance of Morrison city officials. Located on Manchester Highway adjacent to Dollar General, the building provides an effective central location for three fire-fighting vehicles and county ambulance stationed there. The…

By DUANE SHERRILL Two local men were among 10 arrested in neighboring DeKalb County over the weekend after lawmen raided a cock fight in Dowelltown. The raid was conducted by the DeKalb County Sheriff?s Department just before 8 p.m. Saturday evening after they received a tip about the illegal operation. When officers arrived on E.H.…

For the first time in 4-H history, a judging team from Warren County has been crowned national champions. Warren County?s 4-H consumer decision making team, composed of Samantha Brown, Mari Katherine Webb, Drew Milligan and Matthew Hibdon, captured first place earlier this month in Denver, Colo., with a score of 1,463. The Pioneers edged a…

By JAMES CLARK Omaha, Nebraska was one of the many Midwestern cities pounded by snow. A winter storm that has pounded the Midwest and Northeast has left a death toll of at least 46 in seven states. But such fierce winter weather is expected to sidestep Warren County and Middle Tennessee, the National Weather Service…

A Rock Island man faces theft charges after he allegedly stole over $40,000 from his own son to fund a trip around the country which included a stop in at least one Tunica casino. The suspect, James Sartain Sr., 59, was arrested here on felony theft charges out of Cheatham County last week for the…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) ? Indicted state Sen. Jerry Cooper contends in court filings aimed at getting his federal mail fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy case dismissed that law enforcement officials coached grand jury witnesses. Cooper, D-Morrison, is accused of using a fraudulent appraisal and political influence to help an Alabama businessman get a loan from a…