As of yesterday afternoon, the new road through Newtown was largely complete. Permanent signs and the top layer of asphalt are the final two major tasks to be done. The completion date is scheduled for June 30.

NASHVILLE (AP) ‘ Officials mailed 12,000 buyout plans to state employees Monday, hoping to slash $64 million in annual costs amid a projected budget shortfall.Gov. Phil Bredesen is hoping 2,011 employees will accept the plan as he tries to cut a total of $468 million from the spending plan that begins July 1.Finance Commissioner David…

GULFPORT, Ill. (AP) ‘ The rising Mississippi River broke through a levee Tuesday, forcing authorities to rescue about a half-dozen people by helicopter, boat and four-wheeler as floodwaters moved south into Illinois and Missouri.But even as the water jeopardized scores of additional homes and businesses, officials said the damage could have been worse if the…

By JAMES CLARK If Mary Cook had bought a ticket, she would not have been upset with her seat. From her front porch on Nashville Highway, Cook has the perfect view to see all that’s happening in the way of road construction in Newtown.And she’s glad there is finally an end in sight. June 30…

left: Forget the high price of gasoline. Horses and mules were the main means of transportation in 1899 in this photo featuring J.H. Morford- Right: A crowd gathers outside C.C. Breese Jewelry in this 1898 photo. The store was located at 112 E. M. Street If you’re looking for a book that commemorates Warren County’s…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON A wrecking block destroys what was left of two Main Street buildings just hours after fire gutted the historic section of downtown McMinnville. The announcement that arson was the cause of the downtown fire which destroyed the historic McMinnville Opera House has delivered another blow to everyone involved. The news is…

By DUANE SHERRILL A local attorney outraged at what he believes to be profiling of Bonnaroo travelers is offering his services free of charge to any out-of-towner cited by Warren County authorities during their trip to, or from, the festival.‘If they are speeding or DUI, we need to stop them,’ said local attorney Bud Sharp,…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON Much like the environmental officer, the county’s new animal control officer had an eventful first month, as revealed in his report to the Health and Welfare Committee.David Hennessee, who began his duties May 1, related a number of incidents, including an ongoing problem with two large Great Danes which have been…

By Lisa Hobbs When the proposed Highway 55 annexation was brought to the table, that’s where it stayed. The discussion won’t happen at this time ‘ at least as far as McMinnville Regional Planning Commission members are concerned.Ironically, the proposed annexation was sent to the commission for its consideration after Building and Grounds Committee members…

By Chuck Shepherd The Los Angeles Police Department announced in April that it had investigated 320 complaints against its officers last year for alleged “racial profiling” and found that not a single one was valid. The Los Angeles Times reported that was at least the sixth consecutive year LAPD reported a perfect record on racial…