DALLAS (AP) ‘ A man who contended throughout his 26 years in prison that he never raped a woman who lived five houses down from him was freed Thursday after a judge recommended overturning his conviction. Charles Chatman, 47, was released on his recognizance as several of his eight siblings cheered. He was freed on…

McMinnville resident Raymond S. Higgs has earned the 2007 MTSU Cooperative Education Alumni of the Year Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Service. Higgs was given the award during the 12th annual co-op awards ceremony and alumni dinner earlier in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Murfreesboro resident Don Beard, who retired from MTSU…

By Gary Clothier ROOSEVELT Q: I caught the tail end of a TV program featuring a female singer. I can best describe her voice as angelic. I think her name is Sissel. I’d never heard of her. What do you know about her? — V.L.L., San Francisco, Calif. A: Sissel Kyrkjebo is a phenomenon in…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Roy Albert Foster, 90, was born Feb. 5, 1917 and died Jan. 2 at River Park Hospital following an extended illness. A farmer and nurseryman and a member of the Church of Christ, he was the son of the late Arthur Ross and Hassie Reeder Foster. He was married…

James Farell Rogers Jr., 85, of Rock Island died Wednesday, Jan. 2 at his residence. He was born on Aug. 26, 1922 in Warren County, and was a member of Mt. View Church of Christ, a veteran of the U.S. Army serving his country during World War II, a former school bus driver, former church…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Helen Brown O’Kain, 66, was born Aug. 29, 1941 and died Jan. 1 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville following an extended illness. A piano teacher and a member of the Central Church of Christ, she was the daughter of the late Winton and Marietta Couch Brown. In…

Clata Ethelene Stoner Dykes, 72, of McMinnville (Irving College community) died Thursday, Jan. 3 at River Park Hospital. Born on Oct. 17, 1935 in Warren County, she was a homemaker and member of the First Assemblies of God Church. Mrs. Dykes was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Beatrice Hobbs Stoner, and brothers…

Altamont resident Alma E. Dickerson, 93, died Jan. 1. A member of Altamont Church of Christ, she was daughter of the late Bill and Maggie Fitch Scott. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Dickerson; sisters, Sarah Tate, Delia Fitch and Leddie Smartt; and brother, Frank Scott. She is survived by daughters…

NASHVILLE (AP) ‘ A man whose wife and mother were shot to death on New Year’s Day says the women might still be alive if foster care officials had acted sooner. William Clark said the eldest of the two foster children charged in the slayings ‘ James Earl Garrett, 17, and Jeffery Byrd Johnson Jr.,…

By JAMES CLARK Up until a couple months ago, I never gave much thought about McMinnville city government leaving the Blue Building. City hall has been there ever since I can remember, and it seems to be a fairly convenient spot, so I didn’t expend a great deal of energy thinking about new locations. But…