Following directions and learning to measure ingredients are just a few of the many life skills 4-H members gain by participating in the Warren County 4-H Bread Baking Contest.There was a total of 121 entries in the event held March 12 at the Warren County Administrative Building. Categories for each grade level were fourth grade,…

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard Jacob Robert Elam chooses a prize from the container being held by April Farless, Morrison Elementary kindergarten teacher. (Janice M. Howard photo) Morrison Elementary School was buzzing with activity as the annual spring festival recently got underway. The night’s proceeds totaled over $20,000, well…

McMinnville resident and Cannon County native Irene Rains, 86, died March 29 at River Park Hospital.A homemaker, a retired cook with Hillcrest Restaurant and a member of the Church of Christ, she was the daughter of Will and Vernie Farless Summers; and was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Warden Rains in 1977; and…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Gordon Franklin Smith, 90, died March 29 at NHC Healthcare after an extended illness.A retired principal, teacher, farmer and barber, he served as Warren County Tax Assessor for 16 years and was a member of the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association and Mt. Leo Church of Christ.The son of the…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tim McGraw, Big & Rich and Sara Evans have joined the list of performers for the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, the ACM announced Monday. The awards show airs live from Las Vegas on CBS at 8 p.m. EDT May 17. McGraw leads this year’s nominees with six, while Big…

By MATT GOURAS / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — A freshman Republican says his Web log marks the first time a Tennessee legislator has written an online diary of a General Assembly session. But other lawmakers have been offended, saying Stacey Campfield’s blog is unfair, full of malicious attacks on Democrats and a violation of…

By BILL POOVEY / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — A top federal drug official Tuesday toured a regional burn center where a third of the patients were injured by fires and explosions in clandestine methamphetamine labs. Doctors say such cases are showing up every day and driving up the medical costs for everyone. The costs…

By HILARY ROXE / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON — Two members of Tennessee’s delegation to Congress said they saw encouraging signs of progress while visiting Iraq last week, but the country still has a long way to go. Sen. Lamar Alexander said the United States has paid a “heavy price” for the decision to depose…

LEBANON (AP) — State Sen. Rosalind Kurita is stressing she’s the only Democrat to announce for the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat Bill Frist is expected to give up next year. Although U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. has said he will run as a Democrat in 2006, he hasn’t yet made an announcement.…

By MICHAEL GORMLEY / Associated Press Writer ALBANY, N.Y. — A telecommuter who lives out of state while working by computer for a New York employer must pay New York tax on his full income, the state’s highest court ruled Tuesday in a case that could have wide implications in the growing practice. The Court…