NASHVILLE (AP) ‘ Abundant rain in March has ended the drought in many parts of the state, and rainy forecasts for April could leave Tennessee in a good position in case of another dry summer. After by a drenching rain that produced some flood watches Friday, the signs of drought are almost gone. “Drought is…

BY Chuck Shepherd Irish director-playwright Paul Walker’s production of “Ladies & Gents” opened for a March run in New York City 29 blocks north of Broadway in a public restroom. According to an Associated Press report, the entire play takes place among the porcelain in a bathroom in Central Park, portraying “the seedy underside of…

By Duane Sherrill A man who reportedly shot his wife while she was giving her dog a bath has been bound to the grand jury on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault. The defendant, William Christopher Foster, 49, was bound over on the felony charges by General Sessions Judge Larry Ross following preliminary hearing…

By Charles W. Johnson Yorozu Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of automotive suspension systems, has announced the appointment of Warren County native Jack Phillips as president and chief operating officer of Yorozu America. His appointment was announced in Japan on March 21 and in the United States on March 24. In his new position, Phillips…

By JAMES CLARK The Tennessee Bomb and Arson Unit has yet to release the findings of its investigation for last weekend’s fire on Main Street. Special agents with that unit were in McMinnville for several days examining the scene. The only four-legged member of that team is Nani, a Labrador retriever trained to find any…

By Charles W. Johnson Warren County could be eligible for close to $1 million in excess lottery funds to use for K-12 capital outlay projects if bills pass through the General Assembly this legislative session. The county’s Education Committee held a meeting recently, attended by Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale and director of instruction…

By Lisa Hobbs With a show of hands, the city of McMinnville received permission to gather more information about the North Chancery Street project. The project has been talked about for more than 10 years. Pictured are the property owners raising their hands to request With property owners’ support, North Chancery Street might have a…

By Duane Sherrill KNOWLES A teen who ran a stop sign and killed a motorcycle rider last summer will serve a year in jail before being deported. The defendant, Faustino Castillo, 19, entered a no-contest plea before Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley to the charge of reckless homicide and was ordered to serve 360 days…

By Duane Sherrill Sending cellphone text messages to his estranged wife cost a local man a year in jail after his wife produced a phone full of evidence. The defendant, Darrell Hannah, was handed an 11-month, 29-day sentence by General Sessions Judge Larry Ross after he entered a guilty plea to the charge of harassment…

By Charles W. Johnson Ledford got the idea for her Black History Monty quilt from the book ‘Underground Railroad Sampler’ by Eleanor Burns. Frances Ledford has been creating quilts and researching the art of quilting for almost three decades now, having begun the craft in 1980. Over the years she has learned a lot about…