By Morton Kondracke / Columnist For the past three months, the news from Iraq has been almost continuously bad, dominated by accounts of U.S. casualties. The Bush administration needs to counter it with good news — and more steps to improve the situation on the ground.Of course, barring word of the capture or death of…

By Ed Kimbrell / Columnist Upon reflection, it looks like A Network really owes Nashville an apology for the Fourth of July special aired from Music City.Nashville has always been reaching for greater recognition across America. Its roots are woven deeply into higher education, publishing, religion, medicine, and thanks to Martha Ingram, the fine arts.…

By Charles W. Johnson / Columnist For those of us who love language, the Internet is a seemingly boundless source of information on the origins of words and phrases. Admittedly, much of the information is pure speculation, or fabrication in some cases, but some of it makes such good sense, or seems so feasible, that…

Our Viewpoint A common goal among Main Street supporters has been finding a way to lure people downtown in the evening. This has proven to be no easy task. But extending Farmers Market hours to 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday nights appears to be a solid step in the right direction.The Farmers Market has…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Warren County High School’s football staff held its free youth football camp this past week, with over 150 kids attending the three-day session.Head football coach Gerald Tidwell along with the help of the WCHS and WCMS football staff split the campers into four age groups,…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Shortstop Tylan Martin of the Warren County Pioneers 9-year-old team makes a throw to second from his knees after a diving stop during Saturday morning’s game againsdt the Warren County Braves. (Dale Stubblefield photo) A trio of local squads faced off against some stiff competition…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Lawmen are wanting information on a band of tobacco bandits, believed responsible for four separate store break-ins over the past two weeks.“They’re going in and stealing large quantities of cigarettes and snuff and maybe a little loose change,” said Sheriff Jackie Matheny. “They’re really not…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard Warren countians turned out in good numbers to support the American Red Cross blood drive Friday after the organization declared a national emergency for blood.“There’s been quite a few that’s come out today,” said Blood Services chairperson Carolyn Rankhorn. “And I’m really thrilled that…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Thirty-five people were indicted Friday by the Warren County grand jury.Included in grand jury action:• Harold W. Herriman was indicted on the charge of manufacture of methamphetamine.• Clifford Keller and Clifton Norris were indicted on the charge of manufacture of meth.• Austin Fults was indicted…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard A Spencer man was sentenced to 21 years in prison for beating a disabled man to death with the victim’s walker last year.The defendant, Robert Lynn Christian, 39, entered a guilty plea Friday to the charge of second-degree murder and was directed to serve 21…