By MARGARET HOBBS / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard HITCHCOCK After being in the classroom for 29 years, moving to the position of principal will be a huge change for Robbie Hitchcock. She has accepted the position at Dibrell Elementary, a kindergarten through eighth-grade school with approximately 350 students.“I’m very excited about the opportunity…

James Clark photo Warren County High School freshman Rachel Thackxton pounds a bass drum during a recent band practice. The marching band can be seen during halftime of the Pioneers first home football game Aug. 19.

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Tennesseans may now have AMBER Alerts sent directly to their cell phones under a new program being offered through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.Wireless customers, whose phones are capable of receiving text messages and whose carrier is participating in the program, can sign up to…

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard With school starting around the county tomorrow, police officers are urging motorists to drive slowly when traveling through school zones. McMinnville police officer Mark Mara knows people speed through school zones. He sees it all the time.“I usually stop on average about three speeders in the…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Krystal’s 243 company-owned restaurants will offer Wi-Fi Internet access at no cost starting Monday, company executives said. Many of Krystal’s more than 180 franchise-operated restaurants also will add those services. “Krystal is committed to providing our customers a place to connect online for free when they are away from their homes and…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Beginning in about a year, phone companies won’t have to lease their high-speed lines to competing Internet service providers at government-set rates, the Federal Communications Commission decided Friday. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said the unanimous vote by the agency’s four commissioners “ends the regulatory inequities that currently exist between cable and telephone…

LEBANON — Nashville Superspeedway will host its final major race weekend for 2005 on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13 showcasing the Toyota Tundra 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series races. Both series will hold practice on Friday. Both series will run the races on Saturday. The Toyota Tundra weekend…

PIGEON FORGE — Families, veterans, military personnel, EMS, firefighters, police officers and others, gather in Pigeon Forge August 13-20, 2005 for this patriotic event celebrating our country’s heroes. The eight-day event will include canteen dances, a youth parade and “Celebrate Freedom! The Musical.” Saturday, August 138 a.m. – 3 p.m.?Young Patriot’s Day -?Boyds?Bear?Country – 5K…

MEMPHIS — Each August, Elvis fans of all ages from around the world gather in Memphis, Tennessee for Elvis Week — a commemoration of the music, magic and memories associated with the legacy of Elvis Presley. Long-time fans and those who are new to it enjoy a full week of music, dance, sports, social and…

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — U.S. Marines and Iraqi troops pounded insurgents with bombs and tank cannons Friday during a major offensive along a stretch of the Euphrates River valley where 22 Marines were killed this week. About 800 U.S. Marines and 180 Iraqi soldiers moved into Haqlaniyah, one of a cluster of western towns in…