By Duane Sherrill A woman accused of shooting two horseback riders on New Year’s Eve is free on a half-million dollar bond after her bond was cut in half last week. The defendant, Pamela Ooley, 46, was released Friday from Warren County Jail on $500,000 bond after serving nearly four months behind bars following her…

WASHINGTON (AP) ‘ Top executives of the five biggest U.S. oil companies were pressed Tuesday to explain the soaring fuel prices amid huge industry profits and why they weren’t investing more to develop renewable energy source such as wind and solar. The executives, peppered with questions from skeptical lawmakers, said they understood that high energy…

By JAMES CLARK Southern Standard circulation director Bill Cathcart and publisher Patricia Zechman managed to catch a pig running around College Street on Monday. In the absence of available resources for stray pigs, Cathcart took the animal home to his Irving College farm and was looking for the rightful owner.

By Lisa Hobbs Higher fees paid by county residents to use McMinnville Civic Center could be a thing of the past if the county agrees to help fund a massive renovation project which will include two indoor pools, an elevator, new gym floor, an indoor walking track, and remodeled bathrooms. In a letter from the…

By Lisa Hobbs Only time will tell if McMinnville will have another hole in the heart of downtown after the Saturday morning fire which destroyed 207 and 209 E. Main Street. Although McMinnville Mayor Royce Davenport expressed his hope that the property owners would rebuild and encouraged them to do so, the city’s hands are…

By Duane Sherrill Three days after a fire destroyed 207 and 209 E. Main Street, city workers are making progress clearing out the debris. City administrator David Rutherford says the city will not allow the property to be a lingering eyesore. While fire investigators continue sifting through ashes for clues as to what caused the…

State fire officials are in McMinnville today to investigate whether the Saturday morning blaze that consumed two downtown buildings was arson. The arson investigators have the services of a dog trained to detect accelerants. Rumors have been circulating that the fire may have been intentionally set, but there has yet to be evidence to validate…

A team of state arson investigators concentrated on the back of the two Main Street buildings that burned Saturday morning. An arson dog entered the back of the building and didn’t hit on any accelerants during her first attempt. The state arson investigators will be in town until Tuesday. For a complete report, see Wednesday’s…

By Dale Stubblefield Thursday afternoon at Sparta the WCHS tennis teams picked up a sweep in District 7-AAA action over White County. The Pioneers defeated the Warriors 8-1, while the Lady Pioneers shut out the Lady Warriors 7-0. The boys team improved to 3-1 in district play, while the girls are now 2-4. Playing in…

By Dale Stubblefield After collecting 11 hits against White County on Monday, the bats went cold for the Lady Pioneers Thursday night against Siegel. Warren County managed just three hits against Lady Star pitcher Kristen Parker as Siegel rolled past Warren County 9-0 at the WCHS softball field in District 7-AAA action. Siegel improved to…