Rock Island resident and Warren County native Floyd Edward “Bear” Freeman, age 78, was born May 4, 1927 and died March 19, 2006 at his residence following an extended illness. A retired employee of Powermatic and a member of the New Hope Full Gospel Church, he was the son of the late Floyd Wilson and…

McMinnville resident and Limestone, Ala., native Charles Kenneth Farris, 69, died March 20 at Raintree Manor after a lingering illness.A carpenter, he was the son of John Henry and Alta Mae Pack Farris.He is survived by brothers, Howard Farris of McMinnville and David Farris of Bad Nauheim, Germany; sisters, Alice East of Manchester, Jean Russell…

Catherine J. Kirby, 73, of Canton, Ga., passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2006 at Portsbridge Hospice.Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2006 from the Sosebee Memorial Chapel with Minister Brian Collins officiating. Entombment will follow in the Macedonia Memorial Park.Mrs. Kirby was a member of the Woodstock Church of Christ…

To The Editor: Recently, the Southern Standard has published two stories with facts I find interesting.One story said that Warren County had the fourth lowest starting teacher pay in the state. The other story pointed out that our county has the fourth highest unemployment rate in Tennessee.I wonder if these two facts are connected?Bill WilliamsLakeland…

To The Editor: Your article by Lisa Hobbs on March 15 telling about the Blanchettes walk across America to increase child abuse awareness is all well and good as far as it goes.If the people who can do something about it sit back or only act occasionally, the Blanchettes are walking for exercise only. There…

To The Editor: I attended the March 14 meeting at McMinnville City Hall to express my concerns regarding the city?s dual fee structure for parks and recreation activities. Children living outside the city must pay a higher registration fee than a child living in the city.First of all, I have a daughter who swims on…

Gene Lyons In the pagan cult of celebrity worship some suggest is America’s real religion, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds appears to have entered the destruct cycle.As recently as 2004, the 41-year-old leftfielder seemed destined to become what baseball calls, with no seeming irony, an “immortal.” Long one of baseball’s premier outfielders, a perennial…

William Rusher One of the major problems in a democracy is getting sound advice on the best course to take in matters of public policy.If your house has a plumbing problem, you call a plumber. If your appendix is painfully inflamed, you go to a doctor — and probably, after that, to a surgeon. We…

Duane Sherrill Talk all you want, there?s no place for dog breeds like pitbulls inside the city limits, especially ones that are allowed to run at-large.The attack last week of three police officers and their resulting rabies vaccinations is a reminder that some folks just don?t get it. Sure, they may be able to play…

Birth Announcements Baby BoyJase Wesley Taylor was born Feb. 28 at River Park Hospital weighing 8 pounds, 8 1/2 ounces. He is the son of Kelly and Jamie Taylor. He is welcomed by big brother, Jacob Taylor. Grandparents are Paul and Amy Freeman and Carolyn and the late Jimmy Taylor. Baby GirlBreanna Michelle King arrived…