By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard There’s no holiday cheer at A.O. Smith.Layoffs began Friday and company spokesman Mark Petraca said 109 people will lose their jobs before Christmas.“The last thing we want is to lay people off,” said Petraca. “It’s unfortunate.”The holiday timing was jarring, although the news was hardly unexpected.…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard The group traveling to China stayed, at one point, at Green Island Hotel. Pictured are, from left, Wallace Austin of the White County Chamber of Commerce, interpreter Peter Chan and Kenneth Rogers. (Photos provided) An unprecedented visit to China by County Executive Kenneth Rogers…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Dan Cage matched a career-high with 18 points off the bench and Vanderbilt finally pulled away from Alabama A&M to record a 74-58 victory on Saturday night. Julian Terrell scored 13 and Ted Skuchas…

AUSTIN, Texas Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? A smattering of boos in the first half. Another key injury. Another big loss. The Texas Longhorns, ranked No. 2 just a week ago with early season dreams of a potential Final Four, now…

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard Trailing by double digits with just six minutes to play, Boyd’s junior high boys clawed their way back into Thursday night’s game against DeKalb West, only to fall just short, losing 44-41.The Bulldogs held a 34-22 lead after three quarters, having out-scored the Broncos 14-3…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Rick Nash was happy with Columbus’ first period. The rest didn’t go well at all. Jordin Tootoo netted his first goal of the season, and the Nashville Predators scored a team-record six times in…

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard Boyd Christian’s junior high girls struggled to find the basket for three out of four quarters during Thursday night’s home game against DeKalb West, and fell to the visiting Lady Bulldogs by a 31-10 final.The Lady Broncos, who recognized eighth-graders Kelsie Estes, Kaitlyn Lance and…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Thursday night in the Charlie Dalton Gym, the Lady Pioneer freshman basketball team improved to 2-3 on the season with a 47-37 victory over the Lady Red Raiders of Coffee County.The Lady Pioneers offense struggled in the first period of play as Warren County managed…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Thursday night against Coffee County, 12 Pioneers etched their name in the scorebook as Warren County’s freshmen rolled past the Red Raiders 67-31.Warren County got off to a quick start scoring six unanswered during the first three-minutes of play. Jarrell Graig put the Red Raiders…

The Warren County High School basketball squads will take part in their first holiday action of the Christmas Break this week, when they travel to Gallatin for the Tri-Star Sports Medicine Classic.The two-day event, hosted by Gallatin High School, begins Monday afternoon, when the Lady Pioneers take on Greenbrier at 4 p.m. The Pioneers will…