WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush will mark Earth Day next week with a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation’s most polluted park, the White House announced Friday. Spokesman Taylor Gross said that the president will visit Cades Cove on Friday to participate in a service project to honor the park’s strong…

By George Plagenz / Columnist Given the alternatives, most of us would like to go to heaven when we die. But we must first enter a couple of caveats. While we want to go heaven, we want to make it clear we don’t mean right now. We like it here fine for the time being.…

By Thomas Vaughn / Columnist Last Tuesday, Congressional leaders introduced a bold new package of benefits for current and future veterans. The proposal is aptly called the “G.I. Bill for the 21st Century.” If enacted into law, it will be warmly welcomed by a new generation of veterans who clearly deserve it.The bill was introduced…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen, coming off one court victory in the TennCare legal saga, says there’s dwindling hope the state can reduce its planned cuts of 323,000 enrollees. Bredesen said the state needs to come out on top in a lawsuit involving another consent decree that officials have blamed for getting in the…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The State Board of Education on Friday directed public high schools to begin using a uniform grading scale next fall. The new scale, based on a maximum 4.0 grade point average, sets a score of 93 to 100 as an A, 85 to 92 as a B, 75 to 84 as a…

By Charles W. Johnson / Columnist I am quite pleased that my co-workers have jumped on the What’s the Word bandwagon. My boss, columnist extraordinaire James Clark, was even nice enough to take on my duties while I was wandering around the Southwest on vacation last week. And fortunately for me, while brainstorming phrases to…

Our Viewpoint Before investigator Tom Evans came to town for a live Internet demonstration on the prevalence of sexual predators, the Standard urged local residents to attend. After Thursday’s presentation, we can say the opportunity for teens to be bombarded by sexual advances is very real — and very scary.When Evans entered a chat room…

Our Viewpoint County Commissioners were fairly vague about what might be done for local store owners Travis Martin and Dustin Martin if their beer license is in fact suspended permanently.What needs to be done, plain and simple, is the county needs to reimburse the two about $750 if the temporary suspension becomes a permanent ban.…

The engagement and forthcoming marriage of Lori Hornaday of Smithville and David Purnell of Lebanon is being announced by her parents Sharon and Dale Beaty, and John and Patti Hornaday of Hermitage.The bridegroom is the son of Charles and Helen Purnell of Lebanon.Her grandparents are Glen and LaMurle Nichols of Smithville, the late Marie P.…

By MARGARET HOBBS / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard W.C. Business and Professional Club members, from left, Jenny Boyd, Mary Jane Bell, Addie Lee Fults and, seated, Jewell Walker discuss details for the upcoming W.C. Junior Princess Pageant with the reigning princess Caitlin Mica’ McClain. Plans are finalized for the Warren County Junior Princess…