JOLIET, Ill. (AP) – Hendrick Motorsports is still the 800-horsepower gorilla in the NASCAR garage area. However they’ve slipped in recent weeks, and the rest of the field is starting to catch up. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be a big deal that one team has been shut out of victory lane for five consecutive…

Friendship’s Dakota Seamons let his bat do the talking in the youth division of Warren County Church League softball Tuesday night. Seamons belted a grand slam in the first inning, capping a five-run frame, then homered in his next two at-bats to lead his club to an 11-3 victory over New Hope at the fairgrounds…

Senior members of the Pioneerettes who received nominations as All-star representatives, while attending the Tennessee Tech camp are, from left, Lauren Prater, Katrina Allen, Callie Durham and Jennifer Koelbl. All four were also given applications to audition for the 2008 UDA Summer Dance Camp.

Church League Fund Raiser There will be a fund raiser softball tournament for the Warren County Church League on July 28 at the McMinnville fairgrounds. Cost to enter is $160 and deadline is July 25. For more information contact Terry Beard at 815-3253 or 473-3530. YMU golf tourney The second annual young men united golf…

By SETH WRIGHT The news of the Nashville Predators’ demise has been greatly exaggerated. Or so it would seem after the events of this week. After months of doom and gloom and predictions of the impending sale of Nashville’s NHL franchise to prospective owners who made clear their intentions of moving the team, things have…

By JAMES CLARK Kids as young as rising first-graders got a three-day taste of Warren County basketball under the watchful eye of high school head coach Ryan Smith. A total of 75 youngsters from grades 1-8 attended Pioneer Basketball Camp held Wednesday thru Friday at WCHS. ‘We’re emphasizing ballhandling and more of the offensive skills,’…

By Art Larson Sr. What did you do on vacation Joe? Well, I was on my way to my favorite fishing hole when I made a detour and went to Chicago for a ‘locker room’ pep talk with my drivers. Joe Gibbs used his Hall of Fame skills to settle down his race teams of…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD The regular season champions finished strong in the senior league baseball tournament last week. First National Bank took the tournament title after fighting back out of the loser’s bracket. First National beat Sanders Construction in two straight games, downing Sanders in the first game 10-8 and wrapping up the crown in the…

By Thomas Vaughn Last week, the U.S. Senate held a rare all-night session to debate the war in Iraq.?? With partisan pillow fights aplenty, Democrats argued vehemently for U.S. troop withdrawal timelines, and Republicans vigorously opposed them. At issue was a proposed amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill, offered by Democrats Carl Levin and Jack…

By Morton Kondracke In 2003, the Bush administration bulldozed a $400 billion program through Congress that guaranteed prescription drug coverage for seniors. It has been touting that achievement ever since, and justifiably so. This year, however, President Bush is threatening to veto a $50 billion increase in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. How come?…