APAC construction crews work on grading gravel at the WCMS parking lot yesterday. Although not finished, football fans will be able to park on the gravel for Friday night’s Pioneer home opener. (James Clark photo) While the Warren County Middle School paving project has gone into overtime, school officials do not think it will be…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard The Warren County Commission passed a $62.6 million dollar budget without a property tax increase and approved the $6.5 million General Obligation Bond to fund the new Centertown School project Monday night, but in the process, cut the requested 2005-2006 funding to local charities…

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard HAWN A member of McMinnville’s National Guard unit was one of three soldiers killed Saturday night in Iraq while on a routine patrol.Lebanon resident Staff Sgt. Asbury Hawn II, 35, had been with McMinnville’s unit as a member of the 278th for the past nine years.…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Accused murderer Josh Jacobs was in court yesterday for his preliminary hearing. It was during the hearing prosecutors revealed they have a second suspect in the case. (Duane Sherrill photo) Questions of a second killer, and the revelation 89-year-old Ruby Thurman was raped before being…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A report studying state regulations for lobbyists found Tennessee laws are inadequate and gave the state a failing grade. The Center for Public Integrity, a nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization that researches public policy issues, rated current laws governing lobbyists around the country and noted several shortcomings in Tennessee, which earned a 45 out…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Dozens of state corrections officers have been fired or resigned in the last four years for having inappropriate relationships with inmates. The nationally publicized escape of an East Tennessee inmate with help from his wife, a former prison nurse, marked the second time in less than a year that an inmate-guard relationship…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Some pharmacists say cuts in TennCare prescription drug benefits have cost them business and caused them to be besieged with questions from customers confused about the changes, or wondering how to pay for their drugs. “They’ve turned me into a pharmacist-doctor-TennCare specialist,” said pharmacist Jeremy Swallows of Pikeville. About 190,000 adults are…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Three soldiers with Tennessee’s largest Army National Guard unit have been killed in Iraq, the Tennessee Military Department confirmed Monday. The soldiers were identified as Staff Sgt. Asbury F. Hawn II, 35, of Lebanon; Sgt. Shannon D. Taylor, 30, of Smithville; and Sgt. Gary L. Reese, 22, of Ashland City. All three…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Nashville Predators announced Monday they have agreed to terms with veteran center David Legwand. Legwand tied for second on the Predators with a career high 18 goals in 2003-2004, finishing with 47 points and five game-winning goals. He was the team’s first draft choice in 1998, and No. 2 overall. The…

MEMPHIS (AP) — Jerry West made it clear Monday what he expects to gain from shaking up the Memphis Grizzlies lineup. “We want to win some playoff games,” West said as he welcomed Eddie Jones, Bobby Jackson and Damon Stoudamire to Memphis. The three NBA veterans join the Grizzlies in the team’s biggest one-blow roster…