Kamus Crouch gets busy decorating his shirt as mom Liz looks on during the first Magness Family Place Library Parent Child Workshop yesterday.

The winners of the Warren County Bicentennial Song and Poem Contests were announced today by contest coordinator Thomas B. Vaughn. In the Bicentennial Song contest singer-songwriter Jason Gillentine won first place with ‘The Birthing Tree.’ Bill Cathcart took second place with ‘My Warren County Home.’ Adam Freeze took third place with ‘Warren County,’ and Barry…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON The Warren County Senior Center is putting together a book featuring Warren County veterans of World War I & II, and is asking veterans, or family members of veterans, to supply information and photographs for the project. Senior Center director Cheryl Watson Mingle says the book is being produced as part…

Covenant Academy recently held its third annual Spelling Bee. Winners are, from left, Caroline Scott, fourth grade; Madison Butler, second grade; Carlton Gant, first grade; Chloe Hillis, second grade; and David Nuthalapaty, third grade.

By Chuck Shepherd The Fates of Three Class of ’08 Students in Durham, N.C.: Two men did not graduate from Duke University in May because they were two of the three lacrosse players accused of rape in March 2006 and were forced to suspend their academic pursuits in order to defend themselves against the charges…

By Lisa Hobbs Officers at the McMinnville Police Department will receive 31 weapons for just over $5,000. New Glocks will replace the 12-year-old ones. Although the weapons are in working order, the tritium sights are due to be replaced. According to McMinnville Police Chief Charlie Sewell, they are so dull it makes it hard to…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON Hebe after restoration The statue of Hebe on court square stands in silent tribute to the members of Heritage Alliance, Main Street McMinnville and the Leadership McMinnville Class of 1999 who worked so diligently to raise money to save her. Even local children joined in, creating and selling art to help…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON Justin King helps daughter Annie create a finger-painted shirt at Magness Library’s first Family Place Library Parent Child Workshop yesterday. A number of parents and children gathered at the library to read and participate in several creative activities.

BY Thomas Vaughn Lately, I’ve taken a self-imposed respite from the dreary doings of the 2008 presidential race-and I’m glad I did. Far from the sound and fury of partisan politics, I found ordinary people doing extraordinary things. First, I attended the Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary School’s Kindergarten 2008 Graduation service. The program began with…