Murfreesboro resident and Smithville native Rebecca Smith Brown, 85, died March 27 at NHC Healthcare after an extended illness.Self-employed with Brown’s Meat Processing/Bi-Rite and a member of Northside Baptist Church, she was the daughter of Julius Caesar and Winnie Marie Gothard Webb; and was preceded in death by her husband, John Wesley Brown in 1977.She…

Spencer resident and Van Buren County native R.J. Bouldin, 62, died March 26 at Parkridge Medical Center after a one-month illness.Self-employed and a member of the Church of Christ, he was the son of the late Ivory and Juanitta Dodson Bouldin; and was preceded in death by sister, Carolyn Hitchcock.He is survived by his wife,…

Sparta resident and Alfie native Martha Matilda (Tillie) Cardwell, 93, died March 25 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.An employee of Oldham Theater in Sparta for many years, she was the daughter of the late Matthew Gilmore and Rebecca Catherine Prendergast Nelson; and was preceded in death by her husband, James S. Cardwell.She is survived by…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native James Austin Boyd, 89, died March 26 at River Park Hospital after an extended illness.A nurseryman and partner with Boyd Nursery Company, he was instrumental in the development of Mt. View Industrial Park and the Westwood and Country Club subdivisions. He was a member of Westwood Church of Christ.…

Liberty resident and Cannon County native Geraldine Duggin Campbell, 58, died March 25 at Baptist DeKalb Hospital after an extended illness.A dietary employee with Woodbury Nursing Center and a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Hoyte and Allie White Mears Duggin, she was preceded in death by brother, Bobby…

McMinnville resident and DeKalb County native Dimple C. Watts Frazier, 84, died March 27 at her home after an extended illness.A homemaker and a member of Sink Creek Missionary Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Calvin and Lou Carter Watts; and was preceded in death by two sisters and three brothers.She is…

By COLLEEN SLEVIN / Associated Press Writer DENVER (AP) — At least eight other states are looking to adopt tax-and-spending limits as lawmakers in Colorado consider tinkering with their budget cap — the nation’s strongest — to help better weather economic downturns. Colorado’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights, which has returned millions of dollars in refunds…

By RICHARD N. OSTLING / AP Religion Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Present and former Jehovah’s Witnesses who claim they were sexually abused by congregation leaders gathered in their first national caucus Saturday, sharing grievances about the religion’s handling of abuse complaints and discussing legal strategy. William Bowen, former leader of a Kentucky congregation of Jehovah’s…

OAK RIDGE (AP) — Three foreign nationals who work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are stranded at a conference in Canada because of security concerns. The three scientists were red-flagged as potential security risks when they applied for new travel visas at the U.S. Consulate in Montreal, where they were attending a conference of…

NASHVILLE (AP) — State officials pulled a public service health announcement from the radio after some black listeners said it reinforced racial stereotypes. The announcement encouraged listeners to “cut down on salt, fat and serving sizes to help your heart. Try baking your chicken, eating a fresh tossed salad on the side and scrumptious watermelon…