BY DUANE SHERRILL A man who confessed to robbing a convenience store is free after video evidence proved he is too tall to have committed the crime. ‘Unless they can explain how my client grew about half a foot after he robbed the store, then it wasn’t him,’ said Public Defender Dan Bryant concerning the…

BY JAMES CLARK YOUNGBLOOD Ione Youngblood spent over 30 years teaching history to high school students in Warren County. Nearly two years after her death, Youngblood’s estate is being closed and over $1.2 million has been distributed to five organizations ‘ including three that are local. Magness Library, Families in Crisis and the Humane Society…

BY Lisa Hobbs DAVENPORT McMinnville officials have voted to pass an ordinance to purchase the property at 101 East Main Street, currently the location of Regions Bank, for $675,000. The decision divided the board and passed with a 4-3 vote with Mayor Royce Davenport breaking the tie at Tuesday night’s meeting. Aldermen Bobby Kirby and…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native John ‘Jeff’ Bell, 46, was born Jan. 31, 1961 and died Jan. 5 at NHC Healthcare McMinnville following an extended illness. An employee of Metal Products Company and a member of the Baptist Church, he was the son of the late William Carl and Sarah Frances Craven Bell. He…

Smithville resident and DeKalb County native James Howard Curtis, 82, was born Dec. 29, 1925 and died Jan. 7 at his residence. A retired employee of Carrier and a United States Navy veteran of World War II, he attended the Assembly of God. He was the son of the late William Thomas and Jody Era…

Morrison resident and Warren County native Herbert Edward Womack, 69, died Jan. 8 at his home after a brief illness. A retired truck driver with Mid-Tenn Turf and a member of Bascom Methodist Church, he was preceded in death by his parents, John H. Womack and Bessie Blankenship Womack Mason; brother, James J. Womack; sisters,…

Fred Brown Bell, 84, of Muncie, Ind. (formerly of McMinnville) went to be with the Lord on Friday, Jan. 4 at Willowbend Living Center in Muncie. Born on Aug. 18, 1923 in McMinnville, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving his country during World War II and a retiree of Delco Battery in…

Manchester resident Betty Louise Colwell, 72, died Jan. 5 at Manchester Medical Center. A homemaker, she also worked for PCA and Eden Industries in Manchester and was a member of Noah Church of Christ. The daughter of the late Elmer E. and Ollie M. Duncan Gaultney Sr., she was preceded in death by sisters, Maxine…

Smartt resident and Warren County native Ashley Michelle Simmons, 21, was born Oct. 24, 1986 and died Jan. 4 at her residence following a sudden illness. She was the daughter of Thomas Michael and Brenda Fay Lorance Simmons of Smartt, and a member of McMinnville First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her…

By DUANE SHERRILL The county commission could care less about what the people of Warren County think, that is until they come up for election every four years. Don’t believe me, then just wait until they vote on whether to re-appoint the two commissioners who stepped down to seek the state senator seat and see…