By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) WCHS senior Jeremiah Hodges eyes the basket while being guarded by former Pioneer Tommy Jones. The Pioneers won 62-43, completing a sweep of the Wildcats’ squads. (Rob Nunley photo) After two straight lopsided losses, Tullahoma’s visit to the Charlie Dalton Gym proved to…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard An exploding methamphetamine lab is being blamed for a fire which consumed a Spring Street residence and burned a man early Saturday morning.According to McMinnville Fire Chief Kevin Lawrence, the cause of the fire is being listed as a meth lab after fire-fighters found evidence…

MedLine, a physician referral and health information service, is offering telephone assistance to people who need help related to changes in their health insurance coverage that took effect Jan. 1, 2004.A MedLine physician referral specialist is available locally at 815-4300 or (800) 242-5662, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.“When employers make changes…

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard The first standardized test of the academic year, the TCAP Writing Assessment, will be given to area students Tuesday and school system officials are urging parents to ensure their children make it to school that day.“Our students could have the best scores possible, but we…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard WHITED After being acquitted by a local jury last year for a pair of armed robberies, a former serial robber was not so fortunate when it came to federal court.The defendant, Daniel Whited, 47, was sentenced to serve 15.8 years recently in federal court on…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee will have a ‘significant’ nursing shortage within four years that could reach crisis stage by 2020 if more is not done to attract students to the nursing profession, a report by a coalition of private colleges and universities says.But those in the nursing education field said colleges are already turning away…

By COLIN FLY / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — The latest specialty license plate in Tennessee recognizes a Civil War heritage group and features its logo: a Confederate battle flag surrounded by the words ‘Sons of Confederate Veterans 1896.’The tags now are for sale to 2,300 Tennessee members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans…

By KARIN MILLER / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Every day in Tennessee, a company will decide to locate or expand elsewhere because costs are too high within the state’s workers compensation system, state officials told lawmakers Tuesday.That means lost jobs and tax revenue for Tennessee.Members of the Senate Commerce Committee want to make…

By TOM SHARP / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen will propose adding $35 million to next year’s budget to help equalize teacher pay between poor and rich school districts, The Associated Press has learned.That’s far less than the hundreds of millions of dollars that may be needed to balance salaries, but…

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard With the advent of the Tennessee lottery, satisfactory performance on the ACT is necessary for any high school student wishing to earn a Hope Scholarship.To help students achieve the minimum score of 19 needed to qualify for scholarship money, Motlow State Community College will soon…