BY Charles W. Johnson Warren County High School is continuing to improve and refine its Ninth Grade Academy program in its initial year, according to school system officials. The academy is designed to help impressionable ninth-graders adjust to life in the hectic atmosphere of an 1,800-student high school and keep them isolated from the sometimes…

BY Chuck Shepherd In December, inmate Michael Polk (serving time for robbery and aggravated assault) filed a federal lawsuit against the Utah Department of Corrections for denying him the right to properly practice his religion, Asatru. According to its teachings, adherents must communicate with ancient Nordic gods (such as Odin, Thor and Heimdal) and for…

CHICAGO (AP) ‘ Even the American Dialect Society knows how risky home mortgages are these days. The group of wordsmiths chose “subprime” as 2007’s Word of the Year at its annual convention Friday. “‘Subprime’ has been around with bankers for awhile, but now everyone is talking about ‘subprime,’” said Wayne Glowka, a spokesman for the…

BY DUANE SHERRILL Only one early bird got the ball rolling Friday during the first day to pick up qualifying papers for the state Senate office formerly held by Jerry Cooper and now occupied by Steve Roller. Warren County resident John Shields Jr. has the distinction of being the lone potential candidate to obtain a…

By Lisa Hobbs Those who want to see some speed limit changes in McMinnville may get what they are asking for by the end of the month. City officials will be considering changes to several speed limits in McMinnville during Tuesday night’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. In October, McMinnville Police Department recommended raising several…

The traffic lights at the intersection of Carrier Drive and Manchester Highway are no longer blinking, meaning motorists traveling on the highway will occasionally have to come to a complete stop. The lights had been blinking to allow four-lane traffic to continue uninterrupted. As of last week, the lights are back on a regular cycle…

HUCKABEE MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) ‘ Barack Obama, an Iowa winner seeking New Hampshire spoils, faced stepped-up criticism Friday from Democratic rivals now doubly determined to block his rise in the 2008 presidential race. Republican Mike Huckabee claimed momentum for a hurried five-day primary campaign. “This feels good,” Obama told cheering supporters after a dark-of-night flight…

BY Lisa Hobbs JONES Need a boost? At one time or another, everyone needs something, or someone, to give life a little more meaning. Pets can fill that need. According to research, animals can lower blood pressure, relieve stress, improve mood, increase self-esteem and decrease loneliness, while increasing physical activity and the life span of…

BY JAMES CLARK Caney Fork Electric Cooperative customers are no longer in the dark about who will be the utility’s next general manager. Bill Rogers was promoted to the job Jan. 1 after serving as interim general manager since Oct. 8. Rogers has worked at Caney Fork since 1985 as director of engineering. He was…

BY DUANE SHERRILL A man relaxing on his couch watching a movie Friday morning found himself starring the down the barrel of an intruder’s gun ‘ an intruder who opened fire and struck the couch where the victim was sitting. However, the armed intruder was not the only person with a firearm as the White…