By DUANE SHERRILL The man who filled up his long johns and tried to waddle out of Wal-Mart with his drawers full of merchandise was given a year in jail Tuesday by Judge Larry Ross. The defendant, Jeffery Turner, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to the charge of theft and was given an 11-month, 29-day…

By Duane Sherrill A 92-person docket was heard Tuesday by Judge Larry Ross in General Sessions Court. Included in court action: ‘ Erica Hill was bound to the grand jury on charges of promoting the manufacture of meth and criminal trespass. ‘ Brad Kirby was bound to the grand jury on charges of manufacture of…

What is the difference between a Christian sitting in a church pew on Sunday morning and the same Christian at a Saturday night social where religious brethren are absent? No difference at all, says Van Vansandt Sr., guest speaker for a gospel meeting starting this Sunday at Central Church of Christ. ‘The places we go,…

By LISA HOBBS McMinnville officials have given their approval for a nine-member ad hoc committee to begin a review of the historic downtown district and the Historic Zoning Commission. The nine-member committee is composed of Rachel Killebrew, Tommy Foster, Linda Partin, Roy Pierce, Jerry Williamson, Alicea Weddington, Joe Anish, Jeff Golden and Michael Chrisawn. Here…

By JAMES CLARK Cody Smith’s life forever changed when he was involved in a head-on collision with a nursery truck in March. To help the family with continuing medical bills, the local Moose Lodge is conducting a benefit poker run for Smith this Saturday. The goal is to raise $3,000 and Moose Lodge member Ken…

By DUANE SHERRILL A collection agent who allegedly got overly aggressive while trying to collect a debt has been bound to the grand jury and charged with assault for intimidating a debtor while she was on the job at Waffle House. The defendant, Dewayne Ramsey, was bound to the grand jury Tuesday by Judge Larry…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON While most local residents have been complaining bitterly about sweltering temperatures, there is another kind of heat wave that has a somewhat more positive slant. If the figures from the Industrial Development Board are any indication, Warren County’s economy is showing signs of heating up, in direct opposition to the prevailing…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON Gov. Phil Bredesen has allocated an additional $25 million in the state budget for expanding pre-kindergarten classes, one of the priority initiatives in his plan to bolster education. The appropriation will result in several important milestones in Tennessee’s pre-K programs, including: ‘ The opening of 257 new pre-K classrooms this fall.…

By LISA HOBBS McMinnville aldermen didn’t speak in favor of installing red-light cameras around the city during a Tuesday night meeting. City officials squabbled over profit, safety and the fate of red-light cameras in McMinnville on Tuesday, with discussion ending without a vote and subsequent death for the cameras. ‘This isn’t about big brother. This…

By LISA HOBBS Jason Perry wipes sweat from his face yesterday afternoon. While most people were darting indoors to avoid soaring temperatures, Perry was sealing parking lot cracks at Caney Fork Electric during the hottest part of the day. Jason Perry faces a double whammy when it comes to beating the heat. Not only is…